ASTLEY, CHAT, LITTLE WOOLDEN AND ASSOCIATED MOSSES
Steven Nelson said
Sun Apr 17 11:46 AM, 2016
Little Woolden Moss LWT
The Avocet still present at 11.10 but at 11.00 the bird looked like it was off. It flew off high and did a full circuit on the area calling but fortunately returned. Also: 2 Redshank 2 Little Ringed Plover 5 White Wagtail Curlew heard 2 Sand Martin 5 Swallow 3 Willow Warbler
Mark Burgess said
Sun Apr 17 9:52 AM, 2016
Avocet still present on Little Woolden Moss at 9.50am,
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Apr 17 8:51 AM, 2016
Avocet on Little Woolden Moss at 08:50 this morning; currently feeding at looking settled.
Info thanks to David Steel
Steven Nelson said
Sat Apr 16 7:08 PM, 2016
17.45-18.45 Little Woolden Moss LWT
8 White Wagtail 2 Pied Wagtail 4 Redshank 4 Oystercatcher 1 Little Ringed Plover 1 Curlew 1 Whitethroat 3 Willow Warbler 2 Swallow 2 Sand Martin c.25 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Steve Judge said
Sat Apr 16 6:28 PM, 2016
Saturday, 16th April 2016. 13:00 - 16:00 hrs.
Twelve Yards Road - Little Woolden Moss - Astley Road over Railway line - Rindle Road as far as Rindle Wood and feeding station - and return via Croxden Peat Pools
Little Ringed Plover x 2 White Wagtail x 2 Pied Wagtail x 2 Grey Wagtail x 1 Willow Warbler x 5 (seen and singing) and lot more heard Wheatear x 1 Swallow x 3 Redshank x 2 Reed Bunting x 1 Yellowhammer x 3 Tree Sparrow x 1 Skylark x 1 Meadow Pipit x 1 Goldcrest x 1 Greenfinch x 3 Wren x 1 Mistle Thrush x 1 Song Thrush x 1 Kestrel x 1 Lapwing x 10 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Chaffinch x 20 Great Tit x 5 Blue Tit x 3 Robin x 7 Blackbird x 5 Magpie x 4 Carrion Crow x 7 Black-Headed Gull x 10 Collared Dove x 2 Woodpigeon x 50 Starling x 5 Cormorant x 1 Mallard x 7 Peacock x 1 (heard) Grey Heron x 1 (overhead when driving home)
-- Edited by Mark Burgess on Saturday 16th of April 2016 03:02:19 PM
Ian Boote said
Sat Apr 16 2:08 PM, 2016
2 Curlew, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, 3 Wheatear, White Wagtail, Yellowhammer, Willow Warblers, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat, Swallows, Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow and Willow Tit on Little Woolden Moss and the lane to it..
Steven Nelson said
Wed Apr 13 7:30 PM, 2016
1 Wheatear - Croxdens at 16.00 3 Swallow at Woodstock Farm
Jason Dulhanty said
Wed Apr 13 3:40 PM, 2016
Rindle road area
Jayx2
Buzzard over the Scrape pools
Kestrel over the SSSI
Willow warblerx3
Chiffchaffx2
Willow tit
Reed buntingx2
Wren
Stoat on the SSSI
Yellowhammer
Cheers Jay
Dont twitch and drive
IANMOFFAT1 said
Wed Apr 13 3:28 AM, 2016
Late post due to shift work...BARTON MOSS 1900-2030
Steve, you must have been in a micro-climate on Chat Moss at the same time on Barton Moss with the mist coming down
it was so chilling a had to put on a bob-hat!. I also had 3 Yellow Wagtails back on their traditional breeding grounds this evening.
Along with 12 pairs of breeding Lapwings and 4 pairs of Partridge flushed, a lot to be said and learnt for leaving set-a-side fields
although me thinks the flooding fields equates to un-plough able and not left by design or am I just being cynical?
Across the A57 despite the modernising, disruptions and disturbances in the killing fields between the AJ Bell and the Barley farm builds
birdlife still thrives with the sixth successive monthly 3 figure count of Teal on the river Irwell old course with 125 Teal this month.
Cheers Ian.
Steven Nelson said
Tue Apr 12 9:53 PM, 2016
19.00-20.15 Croxdens and Twelve Yards Road. A lovely still evening with clearing skies and lots of bird song and not another soul about!
Croxdens: 1 Green Sandpiper 2 Redshank 2 Oystercatcher 2 Gadwall - pair 9 Mallard 2 Moorhen 5 Pied Wagtail (no Whites) 1 Reed Bunting 3 Canada Geese c.40 Sand Martin briefly flew in, had a quick feed and all flew off south 2 Willow Warbler 1 Chiffchaff 1 Song Thrush singing from edge of Dixons Wood 2 Grey Heron over heading towards Botany Bay
Re: Gadwall - I don't recall seeing Gadwall on the mosses previously despite being quite common locally eg. on M/cr Ship Canal but today I've seen 9 at three different locations on the mosses. Will be interesting to see how long they stay.
Field 52 2 Grey Partridge 10 Lapwing 3 Yellow Wagtail flew over together after doing a circuit over f16
Steven Nelson said
Tue Apr 12 6:23 PM, 2016
12.00-13.00 Little Woolden Moss LWT
6 White Wagtails - probably more 2 Pied Wagtails 1 Dunlin 1 Redshank 4 Little Ringed Plover 3 Curlew c.20 Sand Martin feeding low over the pools 1 Swallow 5 Gadwall 1 Mallard 7 Meadow Pipit 5 Willow Warbler (4 singing) 4 Reed Bunting 14 Stock Dove over 1 Pheasant 8 Black-headed Gulls 4 Canada Geese
Also: 1 Oystercatcher in field next to Woodstock Farm
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Apr 10 8:50 PM, 2016
Day spent here today; usual route of up Astley Road from Irlam, right towards Moss Farm, left onto Twelve Yards Road, and on to Little Woolden Moss. Lovely day for it, with the highlights being:
Irlam Moss:
1 goldcrest (singing) 4 chiffchaff (3 singing) 1 treecreeper 1 lesser redpoll Goldfinch, greenfinch and chaffinch all in good numbers. 8 yellowhammer 4 sand martin 1 swallow 5+ meadow pipit 5 pied wagtail 1 yellow wagtail c10 skylark (at least 4 singing) 2 song thrush 2 mistle thrush (one singing) 2 stock dove 55+ lapwing 2 redshank (in flooded field off Twelve Yards Road) 4 oystercatcher 3 curlew over A few black-headed and lesser black-backed gulls around 4 kestrel Multiple buzzard sightings Usuals out in good numbers
Little Woolden Moss:
4 willow warbler (all singing) 5+ pied wagtail (no whites noted, but not close views) 10+ meadow pipit 2 teal 4 mallard 3 little ringed plover 2 lapwing 3 redshank 4 oystercatcher 2 curlew 4 black-headed gull 2 lesser black-backed gulls over 3 buzzard
-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Sunday 10th of April 2016 08:51:09 PM
Steven Nelson said
Sun Apr 10 5:14 PM, 2016
12.30-14.00 Little Woolden Moss LWT
1 White Wagtail 5 Pied Wagtail 6 Curlew - mossland record count for me 1 Redshank 1 Little Ringed Plover 4 Willow Warbler singing 1 Canada Goose 5 Mallard 1 Kestrel 1 Willow Tit 8 Meadow Pipits 1 Reed Bunting 1 Swallow over north Teal heard calling from the mossland area
1 Oystercatcher
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Sunday 10th of April 2016 05:20:30 PM
James Walsh said
Sat Apr 9 4:14 PM, 2016
Little Woolden Moss LWT
5 Wheatear 3 White Wagtail 5 singing Willow Warbler 1 Little Ringed Plover 3 Redshank 4 Curlew 5 Linnet
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Apr 7 4:56 PM, 2016
c40 Yellowhammer in field 67 off Rindle Road, Astley Moss mid-afternoon today, right in front of Rindle Cottages and showing very well feeding in the field and occasionally flying up into nearby trees and bushes. Also in the flock a few Chaffinch, Reed Bunting and at least 2 fine Bramblings.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Apr 5 11:36 AM, 2016
Five new Wheatears off Moss Lane this morning; 4 males and a female. Also 80 Fieldfare.
12 singing Willow Warblers around Astley Moss SSSI and a single Chiffchaff plus three Brambling by the entrance to the SSSI included a nice male in decent breeding plumage.
Five Wheatear (3 males) along Moss Lane, Astley Moss this morning.
Steven Nelson said
Sat Apr 2 5:12 PM, 2016
15.30-16.45 Little Woolden Moss NR
2 Little Ringed Plover 2 Redshank 3-4 Curlew 3 Snipe 2 Wheatear (m & f) 1 Chiffchaff singing at carpark 5 Sand Martin over N 1 Swallow over N 4 Canada Geese -2 pairs 5 Mallard 10 Meadow Pipit 3 Reed Bunting 2 Pied Wagtail
Irlam Moss 1 Chiffchaff singing at entrance to the Fishery
dave broome said
Fri Apr 1 9:55 AM, 2016
14 Brambling this morning off Rindle Road in field 67 nr level crossing
Paul Richardson said
Thu Mar 31 9:21 PM, 2016
Rindle area and the SSSI 4.30-6.30 tonight. Cracking weather!
Mixed flock of Chaffinch, Reed Bunting and predominant Yellowhammer numbering about 100 was feeding alternately in Fields 67 & 69 and contained a female Brambling. 2 Buzzard were circling around the area looking stunning against the almost Mediterranean blue sky. 1 pair Willow Tit along the SSSI edge near the pools. 1 cormorant and 1 Lesser Black Backed Gull over.
Otherwise Robins, Blue Tits, Great Tits and Wrens were in good voice and a pair of Long Tailed Tits seen in Rindle Wood.
Nothing amazingly unusual but a great afternoon to be out.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 31 5:56 PM, 2016
2 Raven flew west along Moss Lane this afternoon. A single female Brambling was in trees along the very northern part of Rindle Road. A flock of 42 Meadow Pipit were feeding in the field immediately behind Rindle Wood (and occasionally circling it).
Shannon Llewellyn said
Mon Mar 28 9:18 PM, 2016
Very windy day spent here today (fewer birds than normal, and little song); usual route of up Astley Road from Irlam, across to Moss Farm, and then down Twelve Yards Road and onto Little Woolden Moss. No migrants (who've eluded me all weekend), but the highlights:
1 chiffchaff heard singing (road running alongside Moss Farm Good numbers of goldfinch and greenfinch, but only four chaffinch 10+ linnet (small flock dropping into field 25) 2 bullfinch 9 yellowhammer (most around field 25; one heard singing from Roscoe Road) c50 meadow pipit 6 pied wagtail 14 skylark (a few singing males) 60+ starling 20+ redwing 83 fieldfare (all but three in a single chucking flock in trees near Larkhill Farm Mistle and song thrush 1 jay c70 lapwing (44 in field 21, the rest dotted around) 4 (at least) oystercatcher Hundreds of gulls loafing in the fields near Annabel's Farm; mostly black-headed, but about 40 or so lesser black-backed and herring, too. 2 kestrel 5 buzzard (one being mobbed by two lapwing and, um, a pied wagtail)
Little Woolden Moss:
5+ meadow pipit c10 pied wagtail (one being blown sideways; it was particularly windy here) 1 reed bunting 1 redshank 1 oystercatcher 2 curlew 2 very distant buzzard
David Gornall said
Sun Mar 27 1:44 PM, 2016
dog walk this morning towards Astley: 2 Raven over motorbike scrambling site heading towards Astley Moss
Mark Burgess said
Sun Mar 27 11:52 AM, 2016
Early morning visit, Highlights
Moss Lane Grey Partridge 2 Mistle Thrush Kestrel Yellowhammer 2
Rindle Rd Tree Sparrow 2 Chaffinch 30+ Linnet 10+ Brambling 1 m in amongst the Chaffinch flock Yellowhammer 15+ Reed Bunting 6 Curlew Oystercatcher 2 Song Thrush Mistle thrush 2
Steve Judge said
Sat Mar 26 10:16 PM, 2016
Saturday, 26th March 2016. 13:30 - 16:00 hrs.
Walk along Twelve Yards to Little Woolden Moss and return. Caught in severe hailstorm on way back to car.
Female Stonechat x 1 (Little Woolden Moss) Fieldfare x 5 Grey Partridge x 2 Kestrel x 1 Sparrowhawk x 1 Curlew x 1 Canada Geese x 4 Lapwing x 20 Pied Wagtail x 5 Woodpigeon x 50 Chaffinch x 1 Blue Tit x 3 Mistle Thrush x 3 Carrion Crow x 10 Magpie x 4 Blackbird x 3 Black-Headed Gull x 10 Lesser Black-Backed Gull x 1 Mallard x 3
Field 52: 2 Curlew 12 Lapwing 1 Skylark - singing high up
Little Woolden Moss NR: 5 Curlew - initially 3 then joined by the 2 from f52 2 Teal 2 Canada Geese 2 Mallard - pair c.40 Fieldfare feeding in field at W end 1 Jay
Astley Road: 1 Redwing singing at top of a tree 2 Yellowhammer 1 Kestrel Birch View Farm: c.70 Fieldfare feeding in horse paddocks
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Mar 25 2:28 PM, 2016
Nice to see 33 Golden Plover in a ploughed field off the tip road south of Astley Green Village this afternoon (in between the road and the canal), in what is a traditional spring migration stop over location which has been hit and miss in recent years.
Ian Boote said
Fri Mar 25 1:28 PM, 2016
Woolden Moss
4 Curlew 2 Buzzard, 2 Grey Partridge, Siskin, 2 Swallow, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Lapwing Tree Sparrow & House Sparrow.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 25th of March 2016 01:48:34 PM
2 Singing Yellowhammer, 2 Singing Skylarks, 2 Willow Tit, Buzzard, Kestrel, Meadow Pipit, several Teal, Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Reed Bunting and Long Tailed Tits.
Two Curlew (one off Moss Lane and one off Rindle Road) 40 Redwing, many in song/sub-song just south of Rindle Wood Pair of Tree Sparrow back on a usual territory
Jason Dulhanty said
Thu Mar 10 5:29 PM, 2016
Rindle road area 12.30-14.00
Buzzardsx2
Sparrowhawk f
Yellowhammers in great numbers
Reedbuntingx4
Chaffinchx4
Jayx3
lapwing
Mallardsx2
Robinsx3
Wrenx3
Cheers Jay
Dont twitch and drive
Paul Wilkins said
Mon Mar 7 4:22 PM, 2016
Astley Moss/Rindle Hedge/Rindle Lane
Chaffinch 30+
Reed Bunting 20+
Yellowhammer (1 in the hedge, 4 on Rindle Lane)
Brambling 7
Curlew (1 calling while overflying)
Willow Tit 2
plus
Goldfinch
Carrion Crow
Jay
Magpie
Wood Pigeon
Black-headed Gull
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Pied Wagtail (or do we say White Wagtail these days?)
Sparrowhawk
Mistle Thrush
Mallard
Pheasant
Robin
Buzzard
Chat Moss Flooded fields/peat extraction sight
Shelduck (1 male)
Shoveller (1pair)
Lapwing (c. 20)
Oystercatcher 2
Moorhen 4
Mallard 12
also two small waders scuttling along but a long way off and with the light against me (scope at home!) my best guess is Ringed Plover
Mark Burgess said
Sun Mar 6 10:29 AM, 2016
Moss Lane 7.30 a 9.15am Highlights
Willow Tit 2 Linnet c40 Chaffinch c 30 Brambling flock of 9 Mistle Thrush 3 Song Thrush 2 Buzzard 2 Kestrel Yellowhammer Grey Partridge 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Drumming Lapwing many displaying
Good numbers of Fieldfare, Redwing,
Mark Burgess said
Sat Mar 5 9:47 AM, 2016
7.00 - 9.00am Highlights
Moss Lane Linnet c80 feeding on stubble Fieldfare c40 Mistle Thrush 7 Kestrel 2
Day spent here today; usual route of up Astley Road from Irlam station, over the motorway, right at Woodstock farm, left to take me past Moss farm, onto Twelve Yards Road and across to Little Woolden Moss. Highlights:
1 willow tit (Twelve Yards Road) 1 lesser redpoll 1 linnet (singing) c30 goldfinch c15 greenfinch c30 chaffinch 1 brambling (around field 25) c15 yellowhammer (a couple in song, mostly around field 25) 5+ house sparrow 9 meadow pipit 8 pied wagtail 1 grey wagtail 9 skylark (a few up singing, most around field 27 area) 300+ starling (large flock of at least 250 birds feeding in field 21; other smaller groups dotted around) c15 redwing 6 song thrush c30 fieldfare 13 mistle thrush 20+ jackdaw 4 jay 1 rook c150 lapwing (fields 21 & 34 holding the bulk; a few displaying) 3 oystercatcher 2 grey partridge Good numbers of lesser black-backed gull & especially herring gull 3 kestrel 1 sparrowhawk 5 buzzard Lots of long-tailed tit, blue tit, dunnock (plenty in song), robin, blackbird, carrion crow and woodpigeon particularly amongst the usual suspects.
Goldcrest, Kestrel, Buzzard, Willow Tit, 2 singing Skylarks, 2 Oystercatchers several groups of Lapwings displaying, few Rooks, 6 Tree Sparrows, Meadow Pipits, Male Bullfinch, Pair of Reed Bunting, and some Teal.
dave broome said
Wed Feb 24 1:10 PM, 2016
Birds along Moss Lane, Astley today included 4 Grey Partridge, 1 Red-Legged Partridge, 135 Lapwing and 11 Linnet
Paul Richardson said
Mon Feb 22 6:17 PM, 2016
A long round this morning from RIndle, over to Croxden's peat workings (the old hand-cut patch) then Twelve Yards Rd, Little Woolden Moss, and back over the railway at the level crossing.
Jackdaw 250 flock east of Rindle Fieldfare 3 Redwing 11 Starling 40 Song Thrush 3 Mistle Thrush 4 Lapwing 8 Wren 8 Robin 12 Great Tit approx 15 Blue Tit approx 15 Chaffinch 9 until I reached the Level Crossing stretch to Rindle Hedge approx 100 there! Reed Bunting 6 on Croxden's then as per the Chaffinches, perhaps 50 or so in Rindle area Yellowhammer approx 20 with the finches Long Tailed Tit 15 Mallard 8 Snipe (Croxden's) 6 Skylark 1 Goldfinch 1 (don't know where they all went - more in my garden!) Sparrowhawk 1m Little Woolden (nowt else there save for a few Blue and Great Tits and a couple of the Wrens) Kestrel 3 Common Buzzard 4
Also Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Pheasant.
Steven Nelson said
Fri Feb 19 6:16 PM, 2016
12.30-13.30 - fields 5,6,7,8,9 & 10 Good numbers of birds: 1 male Sparrowhawk - caught a Redwing a few metres in front of me and caused absolute panic amongst the rest of the flock! c100+ Lapwing c300+ Woodpigeon c55+ Stock Dove - 31 in f5, the rest in f9 mixed in with c50 Feral Pigeons c80+ Redwing c60+ Chaffinch c25+ Magpie c40+ Linnet 2 Carrion Crow 1 Jay 1 Willow Tit 3 Blue Tit 1 Skylark 1 Fieldfare 3 Song Thrush c.10 Blackbirds - very flighty (continental birds perhaps?) 1 Dunnock 2 Pheasants 1 Buzzard 2 Robin
bernard hooley said
Thu Feb 18 7:37 PM, 2016
merlin on telegraph pole on Rindle Road at 11 a m
Steve Judge said
Sun Feb 7 3:39 PM, 2016
Sunday, 7th February 2016 14:00 - 15:00 hrs.
After nice lunch at Barley Farm next to AJ Bell Stadium - had drive to Irlam and down Astley Road - and did circuit of Little Woolden Moss:
Pretty quiet birdwise.
No sign of Short Eared Owl Fieldfare x 50 (in stubble field on right before entering Little Woolden Moss) Linnet x 6 Buzzard x 1 Wren x 1 Chaffinch x 3 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 10 Magpie x 5 Blackbird x 4
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Feb 1 10:56 PM, 2016
Ian, if you enter 'forum spacing issues' into the search facility you will find the discussion on this issue and the method to resolve it.
IANMOFFAT1 said
Mon Feb 1 9:15 PM, 2016
Barton Moss 1st Feb late afternoon
The Heron`s are back to breed, 51 present today on field 8 next to Moulders farm.
Also 72 Redwings on the flooded part of field 8 + single Jack Snipe flushed
Yesterday 31st Jan, Barton Moss
The soon to be destroyed F55 opposite Barton Airfield had a spectacular sight of 75 flushed Skylarks
hovering above my head for over 5 minutes until I moved on, also single Stonechat, 14 Reed Buntings, 6 Yellowhammer present.
Cheers Ian,....... why is the text double spacing?
John Sleaford said
Thu Jan 28 6:21 PM, 2016
Thursday 28th Jan 2016 10.30-12.30
Peregrine sitting on Croxdens flew off towards the West
30+ Fieldfare in trees edge of field 52
25+ Greenfinch in trees edge of fields 18/62 and Astley Rd
Buzzard over Little Woolden Moss and one sat on Gas line marker corner of field 63/19
Kestrel flying from post to post on Twelve yd Rd.
-- Edited by John Sleaford on Thursday 28th of January 2016 07:00:01 PM
The Avocet still present at 11.10 but at 11.00 the bird looked like it was off. It flew off high and did a full circuit on the area calling but fortunately returned.
Also:
2 Redshank
2 Little Ringed Plover
5 White Wagtail
Curlew heard
2 Sand Martin
5 Swallow
3 Willow Warbler
Info thanks to David Steel
Little Woolden Moss LWT
8 White Wagtail
2 Pied Wagtail
4 Redshank
4 Oystercatcher
1 Little Ringed Plover
1 Curlew
1 Whitethroat
3 Willow Warbler
2 Swallow
2 Sand Martin
c.25 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Twelve Yards Road - Little Woolden Moss - Astley Road over Railway line - Rindle Road as far as Rindle Wood and feeding station - and return via Croxden Peat Pools
Little Ringed Plover x 2
White Wagtail x 2
Pied Wagtail x 2
Grey Wagtail x 1
Willow Warbler x 5 (seen and singing) and lot more heard
Wheatear x 1
Swallow x 3
Redshank x 2
Reed Bunting x 1
Yellowhammer x 3
Tree Sparrow x 1
Skylark x 1
Meadow Pipit x 1
Goldcrest x 1
Greenfinch x 3
Wren x 1
Mistle Thrush x 1
Song Thrush x 1
Kestrel x 1
Lapwing x 10
Dunnock x 1
Goldfinch x 4
Chaffinch x 20
Great Tit x 5
Blue Tit x 3
Robin x 7
Blackbird x 5
Magpie x 4
Carrion Crow x 7
Black-Headed Gull x 10
Collared Dove x 2
Woodpigeon x 50
Starling x 5
Cormorant x 1
Mallard x 7
Peacock x 1 (heard)
Grey Heron x 1 (overhead when driving home)
Yellowhammer 12
Reed Bunting 10
Chaffinch 12
Tree Sparrow
Chiffchaff
Buzzard 4
Kestrel
Grey Partridge 2
-- Edited by Mark Burgess on Saturday 16th of April 2016 03:02:19 PM
2 Curlew, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, 3 Wheatear, White Wagtail, Yellowhammer, Willow Warblers, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat, Swallows, Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow and Willow Tit on Little Woolden Moss and the lane to it..
3 Swallow at Woodstock Farm
Rindle road area
Jayx2
Buzzard over the Scrape pools
Kestrel over the SSSI
Willow warblerx3
Chiffchaffx2
Willow tit
Reed buntingx2
Wren
Stoat on the SSSI
Yellowhammer
Cheers Jay
Dont twitch and drive
Late post due to shift work...BARTON MOSS 1900-2030
Steve, you must have been in a micro-climate on Chat Moss at the same time on Barton Moss with the mist coming down
it was so chilling a had to put on a bob-hat!. I also had 3 Yellow Wagtails back on their traditional breeding grounds this evening.
Along with 12 pairs of breeding Lapwings and 4 pairs of Partridge flushed, a lot to be said and learnt for leaving set-a-side fields
although me thinks the flooding fields equates to un-plough able and not left by design or am I just being cynical?
Across the A57 despite the modernising, disruptions and disturbances in the killing fields between the AJ Bell and the Barley farm builds
birdlife still thrives with the sixth successive monthly 3 figure count of Teal on the river Irwell old course with 125 Teal this month.
Cheers Ian.
A lovely still evening with clearing skies and lots of bird song and not another soul about!
Croxdens:
1 Green Sandpiper
2 Redshank
2 Oystercatcher
2 Gadwall - pair
9 Mallard
2 Moorhen
5 Pied Wagtail (no Whites)
1 Reed Bunting
3 Canada Geese
c.40 Sand Martin briefly flew in, had a quick feed and all flew off south
2 Willow Warbler
1 Chiffchaff
1 Song Thrush singing from edge of Dixons Wood
2 Grey Heron over heading towards Botany Bay
Field 12
2 Gadwall - pair
2 Canada Geese
5 Mallard
1 Yellowhammer
Re: Gadwall - I don't recall seeing Gadwall on the mosses previously despite being quite common locally eg. on M/cr Ship Canal but today I've seen 9 at three different locations on the mosses. Will be interesting to see how long they stay.
Field 52
2 Grey Partridge
10 Lapwing
3 Yellow Wagtail flew over together after doing a circuit over f16
Little Woolden Moss LWT
6 White Wagtails - probably more
2 Pied Wagtails
1 Dunlin
1 Redshank
4 Little Ringed Plover
3 Curlew
c.20 Sand Martin feeding low over the pools
1 Swallow
5 Gadwall
1 Mallard
7 Meadow Pipit
5 Willow Warbler (4 singing)
4 Reed Bunting
14 Stock Dove over
1 Pheasant
8 Black-headed Gulls
4 Canada Geese
Also:
1 Oystercatcher in field next to Woodstock Farm
Irlam Moss:
1 goldcrest (singing)
4 chiffchaff (3 singing)
1 treecreeper
1 lesser redpoll
Goldfinch, greenfinch and chaffinch all in good numbers.
8 yellowhammer
4 sand martin
1 swallow
5+ meadow pipit
5 pied wagtail
1 yellow wagtail
c10 skylark (at least 4 singing)
2 song thrush
2 mistle thrush (one singing)
2 stock dove
55+ lapwing
2 redshank (in flooded field off Twelve Yards Road)
4 oystercatcher
3 curlew over
A few black-headed and lesser black-backed gulls around
4 kestrel
Multiple buzzard sightings
Usuals out in good numbers
Little Woolden Moss:
4 willow warbler (all singing)
5+ pied wagtail (no whites noted, but not close views)
10+ meadow pipit
2 teal
4 mallard
3 little ringed plover
2 lapwing
3 redshank
4 oystercatcher
2 curlew
4 black-headed gull
2 lesser black-backed gulls over
3 buzzard
-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Sunday 10th of April 2016 08:51:09 PM
Little Woolden Moss LWT
1 White Wagtail
5 Pied Wagtail
6 Curlew - mossland record count for me
1 Redshank
1 Little Ringed Plover
4 Willow Warbler singing
1 Canada Goose
5 Mallard
1 Kestrel
1 Willow Tit
8 Meadow Pipits
1 Reed Bunting
1 Swallow over north
Teal heard calling from the mossland area 1 Oystercatcher
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Sunday 10th of April 2016 05:20:30 PM
5 Wheatear
3 White Wagtail
5 singing Willow Warbler
1 Little Ringed Plover
3 Redshank
4 Curlew
5 Linnet
12 singing Willow Warblers around Astley Moss SSSI and a single Chiffchaff plus three Brambling by the entrance to the SSSI included a nice male in decent breeding plumage.
6 singing Willow Warblers
3 Little Ringed Plovers
2 Wheatear
3 Curlew
Little Woolden Moss NR
2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Redshank
3-4 Curlew
3 Snipe
2 Wheatear (m & f)
1 Chiffchaff singing at carpark
5 Sand Martin over N
1 Swallow over N
4 Canada Geese -2 pairs
5 Mallard
10 Meadow Pipit
3 Reed Bunting
2 Pied Wagtail
Irlam Moss
1 Chiffchaff singing at entrance to the Fishery
14 Brambling this morning off Rindle Road in field 67 nr level crossing
Mixed flock of Chaffinch, Reed Bunting and predominant Yellowhammer numbering about 100 was feeding alternately in Fields 67 & 69 and contained a female Brambling.
2 Buzzard were circling around the area looking stunning against the almost Mediterranean blue sky.
1 pair Willow Tit along the SSSI edge near the pools.
1 cormorant and 1 Lesser Black Backed Gull over.
Otherwise Robins, Blue Tits, Great Tits and Wrens were in good voice and a pair of Long Tailed Tits seen in Rindle Wood.
Nothing amazingly unusual but a great afternoon to be out.
A single female Brambling was in trees along the very northern part of Rindle Road.
A flock of 42 Meadow Pipit were feeding in the field immediately behind Rindle Wood (and occasionally circling it).
1 chiffchaff heard singing (road running alongside Moss Farm
Good numbers of goldfinch and greenfinch, but only four chaffinch
10+ linnet (small flock dropping into field 25)
2 bullfinch
9 yellowhammer (most around field 25; one heard singing from Roscoe Road)
c50 meadow pipit
6 pied wagtail
14 skylark (a few singing males)
60+ starling
20+ redwing
83 fieldfare (all but three in a single chucking flock in trees near Larkhill Farm
Mistle and song thrush
1 jay
c70 lapwing (44 in field 21, the rest dotted around)
4 (at least) oystercatcher
Hundreds of gulls loafing in the fields near Annabel's Farm; mostly black-headed, but about 40 or so lesser black-backed and herring, too.
2 kestrel
5 buzzard (one being mobbed by two lapwing and, um, a pied wagtail)
Little Woolden Moss:
5+ meadow pipit
c10 pied wagtail (one being blown sideways; it was particularly windy here)
1 reed bunting
1 redshank
1 oystercatcher
2 curlew
2 very distant buzzard
2 Raven over motorbike scrambling site heading towards Astley Moss
Moss Lane
Grey Partridge 2
Mistle Thrush
Kestrel
Yellowhammer 2
Rindle Rd
Tree Sparrow 2
Chaffinch 30+
Linnet 10+
Brambling 1 m in amongst the Chaffinch flock
Yellowhammer 15+
Reed Bunting 6
Curlew
Oystercatcher 2
Song Thrush
Mistle thrush 2
Walk along Twelve Yards to Little Woolden Moss and return. Caught in severe hailstorm on way back to car.
Female Stonechat x 1 (Little Woolden Moss)
Fieldfare x 5
Grey Partridge x 2
Kestrel x 1
Sparrowhawk x 1
Curlew x 1
Canada Geese x 4
Lapwing x 20
Pied Wagtail x 5
Woodpigeon x 50
Chaffinch x 1
Blue Tit x 3
Mistle Thrush x 3
Carrion Crow x 10
Magpie x 4
Blackbird x 3
Black-Headed Gull x 10
Lesser Black-Backed Gull x 1
Mallard x 3
Croxdens:
3 Redshank
2 Oystercatcher
2 Teal- pair
5 Moorhen
2 Lesser Black-backed Gull
c.20 Black-headed Gull
2 Pied Wagtail
20+ Mallard
2 Meadow Pipit
Field 52:
2 Curlew
12 Lapwing
1 Skylark - singing high up
Little Woolden Moss NR:
5 Curlew - initially 3 then joined by the 2 from f52
2 Teal
2 Canada Geese
2 Mallard - pair
c.40 Fieldfare feeding in field at W end
1 Jay
Astley Road:
1 Redwing singing at top of a tree
2 Yellowhammer
1 Kestrel
Birch View Farm:
c.70 Fieldfare feeding in horse paddocks
Woolden Moss
4 Curlew 2 Buzzard, 2 Grey Partridge, Siskin, 2 Swallow, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Lapwing Tree Sparrow & House Sparrow.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 25th of March 2016 01:48:34 PM
80 Linnet
20 Yellowhammer
4 Brambling
7 Reed Bunting
60+Chaffinch
7 Grey Partridge
9 Skylark
16 Lapwing
37 Fieldfare
24 Redwing
2 Kestrel
3 Buzzard
Plenty usuals about.
Astley Moss
2 Singing Yellowhammer, 2 Singing Skylarks, 2 Willow Tit, Buzzard, Kestrel, Meadow Pipit, several Teal, Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Reed Bunting and Long Tailed Tits.
Moss Rd
Fieldfare c40
Redwing 15
Brambling 5, 3m 2f
Linnet c60
Chaffinch c20
Lapwing c20
Red-Legged Partridge
Kestrel 2
Rindle Rd
Yellowhammer 6
Brambling 2m
Two Curlew (one off Moss Lane and one off Rindle Road)
40 Redwing, many in song/sub-song just south of Rindle Wood
Pair of Tree Sparrow back on a usual territory
Rindle road area 12.30-14.00
Buzzardsx2
Sparrowhawk f
Yellowhammers in great numbers
Reedbuntingx4
Chaffinchx4
Jayx3
lapwing
Mallardsx2
Robinsx3
Wrenx3
Cheers Jay
Dont twitch and drive
Astley Moss/Rindle Hedge/Rindle Lane
Chaffinch 30+
Reed Bunting 20+
Yellowhammer (1 in the hedge, 4 on Rindle Lane)
Brambling 7
Curlew (1 calling while overflying)
Willow Tit 2
plus
Goldfinch
Carrion Crow
Jay
Magpie
Wood Pigeon
Black-headed Gull
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Pied Wagtail (or do we say White Wagtail these days?)
Sparrowhawk
Mistle Thrush
Mallard
Pheasant
Robin
Buzzard
Chat Moss Flooded fields/peat extraction sight
Shelduck (1 male)
Shoveller (1pair)
Lapwing (c. 20)
Oystercatcher 2
Moorhen 4
Mallard 12
also two small waders scuttling along but a long way off and with the light against me (scope at home!) my best guess is Ringed Plover
Willow Tit 2
Linnet c40
Chaffinch c 30
Brambling flock of 9
Mistle Thrush 3
Song Thrush 2
Buzzard 2
Kestrel
Yellowhammer
Grey Partridge 3
Great Spotted Woodpecker - Drumming
Lapwing many displaying
Good numbers of Fieldfare, Redwing,
7.00 - 9.00am Highlights
Moss Lane
Linnet c80 feeding on stubble
Fieldfare c40
Mistle Thrush 7
Kestrel 2
Rindle Rd
Yellowhammer 9
Reed Bunting 6
Redwing 24
Buzzard 4
1 willow tit (Twelve Yards Road)
1 lesser redpoll
1 linnet (singing)
c30 goldfinch
c15 greenfinch
c30 chaffinch
1 brambling (around field 25)
c15 yellowhammer (a couple in song, mostly around field 25)
5+ house sparrow
9 meadow pipit
8 pied wagtail
1 grey wagtail
9 skylark (a few up singing, most around field 27 area)
300+ starling (large flock of at least 250 birds feeding in field 21; other smaller groups dotted around)
c15 redwing
6 song thrush
c30 fieldfare
13 mistle thrush
20+ jackdaw
4 jay
1 rook
c150 lapwing (fields 21 & 34 holding the bulk; a few displaying)
3 oystercatcher
2 grey partridge
Good numbers of lesser black-backed gull & especially herring gull
3 kestrel
1 sparrowhawk
5 buzzard
Lots of long-tailed tit, blue tit, dunnock (plenty in song), robin, blackbird, carrion crow and woodpigeon particularly amongst the usual suspects.
Little Woolden Moss:
1 goldcrest
1 greenfinch
1 pied wagtail
6 lapwing
1 curlew
7 black-headed gull
5 herring gull
4 lesser black-backed gull
3 buzzard (one distant)
Wren, blue tit, dunnock, robin, blackbird, carrion crow, woodpigeon
There's a map of the field numbers on the Manchester Birding website under the site guides pages.
Highlights,
150+ Chaffinch
30+ Linnet
20+ Yellowhammer
50+ Lapwing
20+ Redwing
16 Fieldfare
13 Skylark
3 Kestrel
2 Buzzard
Plenty usuals about
Which areas do the field numbers relate to?
Goldcrest, Kestrel, Buzzard, Willow Tit, 2 singing Skylarks, 2 Oystercatchers several groups of Lapwings displaying, few Rooks, 6 Tree Sparrows, Meadow Pipits, Male Bullfinch, Pair of Reed Bunting, and some Teal.
Birds along Moss Lane, Astley today included 4 Grey Partridge, 1 Red-Legged Partridge, 135 Lapwing and 11 Linnet
Jackdaw 250 flock east of Rindle
Fieldfare 3
Redwing 11
Starling 40
Song Thrush 3
Mistle Thrush 4
Lapwing 8
Wren 8
Robin 12
Great Tit approx 15
Blue Tit approx 15
Chaffinch 9 until I reached the Level Crossing stretch to Rindle Hedge approx 100 there!
Reed Bunting 6 on Croxden's then as per the Chaffinches, perhaps 50 or so in Rindle area
Yellowhammer approx 20 with the finches
Long Tailed Tit 15
Mallard 8
Snipe (Croxden's) 6
Skylark 1
Goldfinch 1 (don't know where they all went - more in my garden!)
Sparrowhawk 1m Little Woolden (nowt else there save for a few Blue and Great Tits and a couple of the Wrens)
Kestrel 3
Common Buzzard 4
Also Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Pheasant.
Good numbers of birds:
1 male Sparrowhawk - caught a Redwing a few metres in front of me and caused absolute panic amongst the rest of the flock!
c100+ Lapwing
c300+ Woodpigeon
c55+ Stock Dove - 31 in f5, the rest in f9 mixed in with c50 Feral Pigeons
c80+ Redwing
c60+ Chaffinch
c25+ Magpie
c40+ Linnet
2 Carrion Crow
1 Jay
1 Willow Tit
3 Blue Tit
1 Skylark
1 Fieldfare
3 Song Thrush
c.10 Blackbirds - very flighty (continental birds perhaps?)
1 Dunnock
2 Pheasants
1 Buzzard
2 Robin
After nice lunch at Barley Farm next to AJ Bell Stadium - had drive to Irlam and down Astley Road - and did circuit of Little Woolden Moss:
Pretty quiet birdwise.
No sign of Short Eared Owl
Fieldfare x 50 (in stubble field on right before entering Little Woolden Moss)
Linnet x 6
Buzzard x 1
Wren x 1
Chaffinch x 3
Blue Tit x 2
Carrion Crow x 10
Magpie x 5
Blackbird x 4
Barton Moss 1st Feb late afternoon
The Heron`s are back to breed, 51 present today on field 8 next to Moulders farm.
Also 72 Redwings on the flooded part of field 8 + single Jack Snipe flushed
Yesterday 31st Jan, Barton Moss
The soon to be destroyed F55 opposite Barton Airfield had a spectacular sight of 75 flushed Skylarks
hovering above my head for over 5 minutes until I moved on, also single Stonechat, 14 Reed Buntings, 6 Yellowhammer present.
Cheers Ian,....... why is the text double spacing?
Thursday 28th Jan 2016 10.30-12.30
Peregrine sitting on Croxdens flew off towards the West
30+ Fieldfare in trees edge of field 52
25+ Greenfinch in trees edge of fields 18/62 and Astley Rd
Buzzard over Little Woolden Moss and one sat on Gas line marker corner of field 63/19
Kestrel flying from post to post on Twelve yd Rd.
-- Edited by John Sleaford on Thursday 28th of January 2016 07:00:01 PM